Modular furniture arrangement comprising electrically and mechanically connectable module furniture parts

ABSTRACT

A modular furniture arrangement includes electrically and mechanically attachable module furniture parts. The modular furniture arrangement includes at least two electrically and mechanically attachable modular panel-like elements. At least two mutually electrically insulated electrically conductive support structures arranged within at least two modular panel-like elements. The modular furniture arrangement also includes at least two attachment components for mechanically fastening the support structures of the at least two modular panel-like elements to each other and conducting electricity between the at least two modular panel-like elements. At least one electric actuator and at least one clamping component are provided. The clamping component having an adjustable length and which fixes the at least one electric actuator to a surface of the at least one modular panel-like element, wherein the at least one clamping component conducts electricity from the at least one modular panel-like element to said actuator for its use.

The present application is a U.S. continuation application based onInternational Application No. PCT/FI2017/050124 filed on Feb. 26, 2017,which claims priority from Finland patent Application No. 20165157 filedon Feb. 29, 2016. The entire contents of which are incorporated hereinby reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

In societies's infrastructure is used for a variety of furniture in verymany different places such as offices, homes, hospitals, schools,production lines, assembly lines and restaurants, as well as short-terminstallable furniture arrangements for example in exhibitions, or aslong-term uses in inner walls of premises and buildings.

PRIOR ART

In general, the prior art furniture are assembled by conventional screwjoints and various mechanical joints to which have not been addedconducting of electricity as their use function. Thus, transferring ofelectricity in the vicinity of the furniture or inside the furniture orfor example through the surface of the furniture is impossible to beimplemented without the need of separate electrical cables, connectorsand bushings. Auxiliary components of furniture restrict the use of thefurniture and make outlook of the furniture untidy. The closest priorart technology FI20145752 has achieved the modular furniturearrangement, but is not focused at all to transfer electricity frominside the furniture to surface of the furniture by integratedattachment technology.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is to utilize electricity network integratedinside modular furniture arrangement in which can be transferredelectricity by using attachment mechanisms of isolated structures to thesurface of the furniture at different positions, and from modularfurniture part to another. This is achieved by a modular furniturearrangement comprising electrically and mechanically attachable modulefurniture parts. The modular furniture arrangement comprises for fixingmodular furniture parts to each other and for conducting electricity tothe at least one surface level of the module furniture part at least twomodule furniture parts attachable electrically and mechanically to eachother, into which is formed at least two mutually electrically insulatedelectrically conductive supporting structure, and at least twoattachment components for mechanical fastening of support structures ofthe module furniture parts to each other and for conducting electricitybetween the modular furniture parts, and to be attached to theattachment components of the modular furniture parts conductingelectricity in the direction of the surface of the module furniture partat least two clamping components for fixing the support structures viathe attachment component to each other.

For fixing modular furniture parts together and for transferringelectricity onto at least one surface level of the modular furniturepart, the invention is based on modular furniture parts attachableelectrically and mechanically to each other and on at least two mutuallyelectrically insulated electrically conductive supporting structureformed inside the modular furniture parts. The invention is also basedon the use of the attachment components to mechanically attach supportstructures of modular furniture parts to each other, as well as forconducting electricity between the modular furniture parts.

The benefit of the invention is that onto the surface of the modularfurniture arrangement it is possible to connect or fix a variety ofelectric devices without wires or separate fasteners. One benefit isthat the invention enables electrical fixing or switching of differentkind of electric devices to different sides of modular furniturestructure, i.e. the modular furniture arrangement, almost to anyattachment junction in the entity of the furniture structure. The mainbenefits of the invention are also electrical safety, hygiene andaesthetics, which are greatly improved as use of wirings and variousfasteners decreases.

LIST OF FIGURES

FIG. 1 presents an exemplary overview of an assembly figure of thefurniture arrangement according to the invention.

FIG. 2 presents an exemplary overview of an assembly figure of thefurniture arrangement according to the invention, where the modulefurniture parts and attachment components are separated.

FIG. 3 presents an exemplary overview of an assembly figure of thefurniture arrangement according to the invention, where the modulefurniture parts are separated and attachment components are located intothe other module furniture part.

FIG. 4 presents an exemplary overview of an assembly figure of thefurniture arrangement according to the invention, where the modulefurniture parts are attached together and attachment components arelocated into the module furniture parts.

FIG. 5 presents an exemplary overview of an assembly figure of thefurniture arrangement according to the invention, where a molded surfacematerial of the second module furniture part has been removed.

FIG. 6 presents an exemplary overview of an assembly figure of thefurniture arrangement according to the invention, where the modulefurniture parts are attached together and attachment components arelocated into the module furniture parts, and the other attachmentcomponent is turned to a locking position by using a tool.

FIG. 7 presents an exemplary overview of an assembly figure of thefurniture arrangement according to the invention, where an actuator islocated onto the surface of module furniture part, and clampingcomponents are ready for fixing the actuator on the surface of themodule furniture part.

FIG. 8 presents an exemplary overview of an assembly figure of thefurniture arrangement according to the invention, where the modulefurniture parts are attached together and attachment components arelocated into the module furniture parts and turned to a locking positionby using a tool.

FIG. 9 presents a corresponding situation as in FIG. 8, but moldedsurface materials of the both module furniture parts have been removed,and the entire actuator has been presented.

FIG. 10 presents an exemplary overview of an assembly figure of theinvention, wherein at least one clamping component has an eccentricfeature, and by rotating it, is formed force that pulls supportstructures together.

FIG. 11 presents an embodiment according to the invention, wherein isachieved sandwich shaped module furniture parts performing differentkinds of use purposes.

FIG. 12 presents an embodiment according to the invention, wherein twosandwich shaped module furniture parts are attached together being readyto be fixed by using clamping components.

FIG. 13 presents an embodiment according to the invention, whereinsandwich shaped module furniture parts located according to the FIG. 11are fixed together by using clamping components.

FIG. 14 presents an embodiment according to the invention, whereinsandwich shaped module furniture parts are fixed together, and anactuator is located onto the surface of the outermost module furniturepart.

FIG. 15 presents an embodiment according to the invention, whereinsandwich shaped module furniture parts are fixed together, and anactuator is located onto the surface of the outermost module furniturepart. Molded surface material of the middle and right-side modulefurniture parts have been removed.

FIG. 16 presents an overview of an assembly figure of the furniturearrangement according to the invention, wherein a thread has been formedto end of at least one clamping component, and after the threadconically outwards growing shape.

FIG. 17 presents an overview of an assembly figure of the invention,wherein module furniture parts are located against each other, andfemale attachment component and male attachment component are ready tobe installed for locking module furniture parts together.

FIG. 18 presents an overview of an assembly figure of the invention,where in the attachment technique according to the FIG. 17 a moldedsurface material has been removed. Female attachment components and maleattachment components are installed in a fixed position within eachother.

FIG. 19 presents an overview of an assembly figure of the invention,where the actuators are ready to be installed onto the surface of themodule furniture part to which an installation state of the actuator hasbeen initiated.

FIG. 20 presents an overview of an assembly figure of an intelligentmodular surface arrangement according to the invention, wherein onto thesurface of combination of the module furniture parts is formed magneticsurface material.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the embodiments according to the invention is Implemented anattachment mechanism of an electrical device, which is mechanically andelectrically fixable onto surface of the module furniture part in orderto Integrate electrical network to the foxing means and provide anactuator fixed onto the surface of the furniture with needed usevoltage.

In FIGS. 1-20 are presented exemplary embodiments according to thepresent invention.

Modular furniture arrangement comprises electrically and mechanicallyattachable module furniture parts 101. In order to attach them themodular furniture arrangement comprises for fixing modular furnitureparts 101 to each other and for conducting electricity to the at leastone surface level of the module furniture part, at least two modulefurniture parts 101 attachable electrically and mechanically to eachother, into which is formed at least two mutually electrically insulatedelectrically conductive supporting structure 102. The modular furniturearrangement comprises at least two attachment components 103 formechanical fastening of support structures 102 of the module furnitureparts 101 to each other and for conducting electricity between themodular furniture parts 101. Furthermore, the mechanical furniturearrangement can comprise at least two clamping components 104 for fixingthe support structures 102 via the attachment component 103 to eachother to be attached to the attachment components 103 of the modularfurniture parts 101 and for conducting electricity in the direction ofthe surface of the module furniture part.

In some embodiments of the invention the modular furniture arrangementcan also comprise at least one electric actuator 105 operating byelectricity and at least one clamping component 104 for fixing theactuator 105 to the surface of the module furniture part 101 byadjusting the component length and for conducting electricity from themodule furniture part 101 to said actuator 105 for its use.

In the exemplary embodiments of the invention the modular furniturearrangement can comprise an attachment component 103 that fix thesupport structures of modular furniture parts 101 to each other via agroove formed to an attachment surface of the module furniture parts 101by using a tool 150 with the attachment component 103 for performingsaid fixing of the support structures. A threaded fastening hole 122 canbe formed to the attachment component 103, and the support structures102 of the modular furniture parts 101 fix to each other by rotationmovement via the threaded fastening hole 122. According to theembodiment the attachment component 103 can be made made of anelectrically nonconductive material or of an electrically conductivematerial.

The modular furniture arrangement can further comprise a clampingcomponent 104, which fix to the attachment component 103 via a threadand fix the support structures 102 of the module furniture parts 101 toeach other. In some embodiments of the invention the modular furniturearrangement can comprise a clamping component 104, and the actuator 105is fixed to the surface of the module furniture part 101 by increasinglength of the locking component, and the actuator is electricallyconnected to the modular furniture arrangement. The clamping component104 can have a rotating shaft, and in the end of which is eccentricshape, that locks the support structures 102 of the module furniturepart 101 when the clamping component 104 is rotated.

In some embodiments according to the invention the modular furniturearrangement can comprise an actuator, which is fixable to surface of themodule furniture part 101 with screws 104, the actuator receivingelectricity for its operation via the screws 104.

In the following is presented different kinds of detailed embodimentsaccording to the Invention related to FIGS. 1-20:

FIG. 1 presents an overview of an assembly figure of the invention,where two module furniture parts 101 are attached together and anexemplary actuator is switched onto surface of a joint area of modulefurniture parts 101.

FIG. 2 presents an overview of an assembly figure of the invention,where the module furniture parts 101 and attachment components 103 areseparated.

FIG. 3 presents an assembly figure of the invention, where the modulefurniture parts 101 are separated and attachment components 103 arelocated into the other module furniture part.

FIG. 4 presents an assembly figure of the invention, where the modulefurniture parts 101 are attached together and attachment components 103are located into the module furniture parts.

FIG. 5 presents an assembly figure of the invention, where the modulefurniture parts 101 are attached together and attachment components 103are located into the module furniture parts. A molded surface materialof the other module furniture part 101 has been removed.

FIG. 6 presents an assembly figure of the invention, where the modulefurniture parts 101 are attached together and attachment components 103are located into the module furniture parts, and the other attachmentcomponent is turned to a locking position by using a tool 150. A moldedsurface material of the other module furniture part 101 has beenremoved.

FIG. 7 presents an assembly figure of the invention, where the modulefurniture parts 101 are attached together and attachment components 103are located into the other module furniture parts and turned to alocking position by using a tool 150. An actuator (105) is located ontothe surface of module furniture part, and clamping components (104) areready for fixing the actuator 105 onto the surface of the modulefurniture part 101. A molded surface material of the other modulefurniture part 101 has been removed.

FIG. 8 presents an assembly figure of the invention, where the modulefurniture parts 101 are attached together and attachment components 103are located into the other module furniture parts and turned to alocking position by using a tool 150.

An actuator 105 is located onto the surface of module furniture part,and clamping components 104 are ready for fixing the actuator 105 ontothe surface of the module furniture part 101. A molded surface materialof the other module furniture part 101 and half of the actuator surfacehas been removed in the figure.

FIG. 9 presents a corresponding situation as in FIG. 8, but moldedsurface materials of the both module furniture parts 101 have beenremoved, and the entire actuator has been presented.

FIG. 10 presents an overview of an assembly figure of the invention,wherein at least one clamping component 104 has an eccentric feature,and by rotating it, is formed force that pulls support structures 102together. The clamping component 104 has a feature that it is locked inthe strongest pulling position. By adjusting length of the clampingcomponents electricity can be conducted to the surface of the modulefurniture part and at the same time the actuator 105 is fixed onto thesurface of the module furniture parts 101, 106, 107, 108.

FIG. 11 presents an embodiment according to the invention, wherein isachieved sandwich shaped module furniture parts performing differentkinds of use purposes: module furniture part (106) conductingelectricity, module furniture part 106 conducting electricity, whichmodule furniture part have inside integrable piping as its feature fortransferring liquid and gas, and a pipe module furniture part 108, whichdoes not include a support structure. Module furniture parts 106, 107,108 are switchable to each other via at least one damping component 104from the direction of openings of clamping components in the sandwichmodule when clamping components conduct electricity from one module toother in the transversal direction of longitudinally locating supportstructures 102 of the module furniture parts 106, 107, 108.

FIG. 12 presents an embodiment according to the invention, wherein twosandwich module furniture parts 106, 107 are attached together beingready to be fixed by using clamping components.

FIG. 13 presents an embodiment according to the invention, whereinsandwich shaped module furniture parts 106, 107 located according to theFIG. 11 are fixed together by using clamping components 104, whichconduct electricity between sandwich module furniture parts or, whennecessary, by adjusting length of the clamping component to surface ofthe sandwich module part.

FIG. 14 presents an embodiment according to the invention, whereinsandwich shaped module furniture parts are fixed together, and anactuator 105 is located onto the surface of the outermost modulefurniture part, which actuator is fixing via the damping components 104through the sandwich module furniture part onto its surface.

FIG. 15 presents an embodiment according to the invention, whereinsandwich shaped module furniture parts are fixed together, and anactuator 105 is located onto the surface of the outermost modulefurniture part and molded surface material of the middle and right-sidemodule furniture parts have been removed.

FIG. 16 presents an overview of an assembly figure of the invention,wherein a thread has been formed to end of at least one clampingcomponent 104, and after the thread 112 is conically outwards growingshape 113. At least one end of the attachment component 103 is providedwith an aperture in which the thickest part of the conical shape 113 canmove in the longitudinal direction of the attachment component 103 atleast in the amount of clamping capacity of the conical shape. To theends 102 of the support structure 102 is formed a threaded hole, whereinthe clamping component 104 rotates, and the conical shape 113 tightensby means of the attachment component 103 support structures to eachother, and the modular furniture parts are fixed to each other. Lengthof the clamping component 104 can be adjusted to conduct electricity tothe surface of the module furniture part and at the same time theactuator 105 is fixed onto the surface of the modular furniture parts101, 106, 107, 108.

FIG. 17 presents an overview of an assembly figure of the invention,wherein module furniture parts 101, 106, 107, 108 are located againsteach other, and female attachment component 115 and male attachmentcomponent 116 are ready to be installed for locking module furnitureparts 101, 106, 107, 108 together. The features of the female attachmentcomponent 115 and the male attachment component 116 include at least theinterlocking electrically and mechanically to each other and as apotential feature, alternatively or in combination with the previousfeature fixing of the locking component into a mounting groove (114) ofthe surface of the module furniture part. FIG. 18 presents an overviewof an assembly figure of the invention, where in the attachmenttechnique according to the FIG. 17 a molded surface material has beenremoved. Female attachment components 115 and male attachment components116 are installed in a fixed position within each other. Clampingcomponents 104 are ready to pull the female attachment components 115and the male attachment components 116 against each other and, ifnecessary, to conduct electricity to surface of the module furniturepart 101, 106, 107, 108, and to attach the actuator 105 against thesurface of the module furniture part 101, 106, 107, 108. The attachmentcomponents 103 according to the FIG. 18 strengthen fixing of the supportstructures 102 to each other and according to a technically differentembodiment of attachment components 103 are excluded from thearrangement. To the attachment component is obtained a shape, which haveequal and attractive shape to pull them against each another, and saidshape is also obtained to the male attachment component.

FIG. 19 presents an overview of an assembly figure of the invention,where the actuators 105 are ready to be installed onto the surface ofthe module furniture part 101, 106, 107, 108 to which an installationstate of the actuator has been initiated, whose size is possible to beadjusted according to required space of the actuator 105 and the amountof which in the module furniture part can be varied or omitted entirely.The actuator is provided with a function part by molding or otherwise bymechanically attaching. Actuators are categorized to certain standardsizes as well as the attachment mechanisms. This technical solutionallows the actuator 105 to be embedded inside the module furniture part101, 106, 107, 108, keeping the surfaces steady, integration of variousfunctions inside the module furniture parts 101, 106, 107, 108 andexchange of them without a need to replace a modular furniture part 101,106, 107, 108. Clamping components 104 can transfer power to theactuator 105 and the control can take place wirelessly.

All the technical solutions of the invention, in which is fixedmechanically some parts, shapes, surface materials, components or othertechnical characteristics to each other or alternatively is wanted toobtain outwards pushing force, attachment methods according to thedescriptions and claims can be replaced by magnets or by a correspondingway electrically obtained magnetic field.

In all the technical solutions of the Invention, in which is fixedmechanically some parts, shapes, surface materials, components or othertechnical characteristics to each other, onto surfaces of all theobtained components can be formed electrically insulating layer, whichhas characteristics and shape on the basis of which electricalconductivity can be restricted between different components and obtainelectrically safe embodiment to install and use the modular furniturearrangement.

Magnetic characteristics can be obtained to attachment components 102and clamping components 104 of all the technical solutions of theinvention, in which magnetically attractive surface material adheresonto the surface of the module furniture part 101, 106, 107, 108.

FIG. 20 presents an overview of an assembly figure of an intelligentmodular surface arrangement 118 according to the invention, wherein ontothe surface of combination of the module furniture parts 101, 106, 107,108 is formed magnetic surface material 119, which is provided withdesired number of openings of standardized size and shape, and into theopenings are installed exchangeable and depending on the size and shapefixing and positioning advertisement materials 120. Into thestandardized openings of surface of the modular furniture part can befixed and attached actuators 105, which can have a need to comeaccording to their function through the surface or the alternativelythey can locate as hidden below the surface. Magnetic or magneticallyattractive surface material adheres by means of attachment components103, clamping components 104 or by means of magnetic characteristics orshape of an actuator 105, or by means of other mechanical positioningmeans, which can be between the surfaces installable locking means onthe basis of its shape or a shape formed to the module furniture part101, 106, 107, 108. Adhesive tape or mechanical label can also be usedas a means for adhering.

Intelligent modular surface arrangement for creating advertising,atmosphere and communication:

The traditional way to advertise via the furniture is to attach variousadvertisement tapes and labels onto the surface of furniture, which gaverise to the original surfaces suffering from installation work and theuse of different chemicals. The worn surfaces of the furniture lead to asituation, in which the surfaces have to be renewed, which Is tediousand expensive for owners of the furniture.

The intelligent, modular surface arrangement includes a magnetically ormechanically folding roller surface material, which is provided with anentire system of the openings, which is being standardized. According todifferent needs contents of the openings can be changed, which aredifferent advertising surface materials instead of advertisementstickers or, for example, inside or onto the surface of module furniturepart fixable actuators, designed to obtain the effect, such as sound,light, picture or other audiovisual activities, which are wanted to bebrought through the surface materials.

The intelligent, modular surface arrangement Includes a method in whichthe client creates furniture according to his needs by online designprogram, by which the client positions the wanted advertisements,actuators and other openings onto the surface of his furniture. Theonline design program sends a need list of the modular furniture partsof the furniture arrangement ordered by the client to the productionwith the surface materials, which forms configuration Information forthe user. Modular furniture parts with surface materials andadvertisements are delivered to the client in a logistically reasonableand compact package. As the needs change the client can makemodifications by online design program to furniture shape and surfacematerial with the advertisements. Module furniture parts andadvertisements fit always onto their positions, when the online designprogram has them produced.

Modular structures according to the invention can be also utilized forexample in wall structures or in ceiling structures.

1.-11. (canceled)
 12. A modular building element arrangement accordingto claim 15, wherein the at least two modular panel-like buildingelements are attached to each other to form a wall structure.
 13. Amodular building element arrangement according to claim 15, wherein theat least two modular panel-like building elements are attached to eachother to form a roof structure.
 14. A modular building elementarrangement according to claim 15, wherein the at least two modularpanel-like building elements are attached to each other to form a floorstructure.
 15. A modular building element arrangement, comprising: atleast two electrically and mechanically attachable modular panel-likeelements; at least two mutually electrically insulated electricallyconductive support structures arranged within at least two modularpanel-like elements; at least two attachment components for mechanicallyfastening the support structures of the at least two modular panel-likeelements to each other and conducting electricity between the at leasttwo modular panel-like elements; at least one electric actuator; and atleast one clamping component having an adjustable length and which fixesthe at least one electric actuator to a surface of the at least onemodular panel-like element, wherein the at least one clamping componentconducts electricity from the at least one modular panel-like element tosaid actuator for its use.
 16. A modular building element arrangementaccording to claim 1, wherein the at least one clamping componentconducts electricity in a direction of a surface of the at least onemodular panel-like building element to the at least one electricactuator.